Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has ruled that candidates appearing for NEET cannot claim “dual educational privileges” by combining academic credentials from different educational boards to secure eligibility benefits for MBBS admissions.
The court dismissed a petition filed by a candidate who sought to combine marks obtained from the Odisha State Board and the National Institute of Open Schooling to satisfy eligibility requirements under a reserved admission category.
In its judgment, the High Court clarified that the State Government School (SGS) quota is intended exclusively for students who have completed their education entirely within the state government school system. The court observed that allowing candidates to combine qualifications from different educational streams would defeat the objective behind the reservation policy.
The petitioner had challenged the denial of admission benefits under the SGS quota, arguing that the combined academic record should be considered for eligibility. However, the court held that such an interpretation would amount to claiming benefits from two separate educational systems simultaneously.
With the ruling, the High Court upheld the authorities’ decision to deny the MBBS seat to the petitioner on the grounds that the candidate did not meet the eligibility conditions prescribed for the quota category.
Legal observers say the judgment is significant as it reinforces the principle that reservation and special quota benefits must be availed strictly in accordance with the eligibility criteria laid down by the government. The ruling is also expected to serve as an important precedent in future disputes relating to educational quota eligibility and admissions in Odisha.
